U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Iran has figures in its political branches who appear more flexible and willing to work with the United States, and that those are the people with whom Washington is conducting negotiations. His remarks, reported by a curated Israeli channel, reinforce the administration's distinction between Iran's political and security apparatuses amid ongoing nuclear talks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Thursday that within Iran's political branches there are individuals who appear more flexible and willing to work with the United States, and that these are the people with whom Washington is currently conducting negotiations. Rubio's remarks, circulated via a curated Israeli news channel, come as the Trump administration pursues a multi-track diplomatic approach with Tehran — a process that has included face-to-face talks in Switzerland and technical-level meetings set to reconvene on June 30, according to earlier statements by Rubio himself.
The secretary's framing echoes President Trump's recent praise of Iran's leadership as 'smart, much less extreme' and 'good,' and appears to validate the administration's strategy of engaging specifically with what it views as the more pragmatic political elements of the Iranian regime. The negotiations, which began with a 60-day framework agreed in Switzerland, have drawn criticism from Israeli officials and some U.S. defense and intelligence chiefs — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe have reportedly opposed the deal, with Trump said to be considering dismissing them.
Rubio, a longtime opponent of the original 2015 nuclear deal, has maintained that the current process is a temporary measure and that President Trump retains a wide range of options if Iran fails to meet its commitments. He has also distinguished the Iran talks from separate U.S. diplomatic efforts regarding Lebanon. The precise composition of the Iranian negotiating team and the identity of the 'political arm' figures Rubio referenced remain unspecified.
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